Today, now seven years later, more than 5,000 people have become involved in one way or another.
The mayor, public schools, Rotary Clubs, other churches, small businesses, judges, the head of the humane society, the Jewish community and some of the local policemen: They are all transforming lives half a world away.
Pastor Curry told me: “We also engaged folks from the gay community. These were people who wouldn’t have returned my call as an evangelical leader, but now they want to partner with the church.”
They achieved in five years what they expected to take 15. HIV/AIDS orphans received help. Those who are HIV-positive receive care so their children won’t become orphans.
In the seven years since the Global Neighbor Project began, Life Center Church has seen its membership double.
Pastor Curry told me, “We used to be known as that church with the big Christmas pageant—now we’re known as the church that is helping AIDS orphans.”
There was a time when Pastor Curry might have worried about things like posting the Ten Commandments in courtrooms, but today he’s too busy changing the city of Tacoma and world.
This is the work Christians are called to do.
Christians can stop worrying about the symbols of the decline of Christian America and get back to the mission Jesus gave us to show the world a different way to live—a way that demonstrates the great character of God: his love, his justice, his compassion, his forgiveness and his reconciliation.
